Misrata port reports rising container throughput as importers diversify from Tripoli

Misrata’s commercial port recorded a double-digit rise in container movements in the first half of 2026, according to operators who attribute the trend to importers routing cargo away from congested Tripoli berths. Free-zone warehouses reported strong demand for steel, tiles and packaged foods destined for Sabha and Murzuq corridors.

Customs brokers highlighted digitised pre-arrival forms that reduced average dwell times for compliant shipments, while warning that informal payments at secondary checkpoints still add cost for truckers. Shipping lines restored a weekly feeder service to Malta and Genoa, improving options for SMEs ordering mid-size lots.

Economists cautioned that sustained growth depends on unified customs codes between eastern and western authorities. WOP360 economy desk will publish quarterly port line-up comparisons with Es Sider and Khoms.